Methods and apparatus for loading or modifying a vehicle database from a remote computer via a communications network and a fuel or current dispenser
First Claim
1. A method for inputting information to a vehicle, comprising the steps of:
- providing a vehicle that comprises a memory capable of storing information;
coupling the vehicle to a dispenser of a consumable vehicle energy source;
transferring a message from the vehicle to a computer via the dispenser and a data communications network, the message comprising a portion for specifying a request that all or some of the stored information be modified;
in response to a receipt of the message, transferring information from the computer to the memory via the data communications network and the dispenser; and
inserting the transferred information into the memory for modifying all or some of the stored information.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Method and apparatus providing supplementary navigation data to be used with a vehicular navigation system. The supplementary navigation data can be superimposed over primary navigation data on a navigation system display or can be presented as a split-screen display. The supplementary navigation data may contain information such as locations of local facilities, local road information, types of local facilities. The supplementary navigation data is received by the vehicle when the vehicle is coupled to a station, such as a battery recharging or a refueling station, and is transmitted to the navigation system. An on-board controller can store the data and/or display the data. The navigation system could use the supplementary data to determine routes or locations for specific local facilities selected by the user. In an interactive or two-way communications system, the user can select predetermined types of supplementary data to be received. The supplementary navigation data is preferably transmitted to the navigation system at a local vehicle station, such as a refueling station, a vehicle rest stop, a vehicle tourist center, etc. Position update information can also be entered for resetting or recalibrating an internally maintained vehicle position.
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Citations
40 Claims
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1. A method for inputting information to a vehicle, comprising the steps of:
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providing a vehicle that comprises a memory capable of storing information;
coupling the vehicle to a dispenser of a consumable vehicle energy source;
transferring a message from the vehicle to a computer via the dispenser and a data communications network, the message comprising a portion for specifying a request that all or some of the stored information be modified;
in response to a receipt of the message, transferring information from the computer to the memory via the data communications network and the dispenser; and
inserting the transferred information into the memory for modifying all or some of the stored information. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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8. A method for inputting information to a vehicle, comprising the steps of:
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providing a vehicle that comprises a memory capable of storing information;
coupling the vehicle to a dispenser of a consumable vehicle energy source;
transferring a message from the vehicle to a computer via the dispenser and a data communications network, the message comprising a portion for requesting that specified information be downloaded to the memory;
in response to a receipt of the message, accessing a file with the computer and downloading the specified information from the computer to the memory via the data communications network and the dispenser; and
storing the downloaded information into the memory. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A system for inputting data to a vehicle, comprising:
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a dispenser of a consumable vehicle energy source, said dispenser being bidirectionally coupled to a data communications network to which is also coupled at least one computer, said dispenser comprising first data connector means for bidirectionally coupling said dispenser to a second data connector means of a vehicle; and
a vehicle that comprises a data storage memory and said second data connector means for coupling said vehicle to said first data connector means of said dispenser for transferring data into said data storage memory from said computer through said data communications network, said vehicle further comprising a controller for transmitting a message from said vehicle to said computer via said first and second data connector means and said data communications network, the message comprising a portion for specifying data to be transferred into said data storage memory;
whereinsaid computer is responsive to a receipt of the message for accessing a data store and for transferring the specified data to said data storage memory via said data communications network, said dispenser, and said first and second data connector means; and
whereinsaid controller is responsive to a receipt of the transferred data for storing the transferred data into said data storage memory. - View Dependent Claims (7, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. A method for retrieving data from a computer, comprising the steps of:
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coupling a vehicle to a dispenser of a consumable vehicle energy source;
transferring a data request message from the vehicle to a computer via the dispenser and a data communications network that is bidirectionally coupled to the dispenser and to the computer, the data request message comprising a portion for requesting that specified data be retrieved; and
in response to a receipt of the data request message, accessing a file with the computer to retrieve the specified data and transmitting the retrieved data from the computer to the data communications network. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40)
inputting to the vehicle the transmitted data from the data communications network via the dispenser;
storing the inputted data within a memory; and
presenting, in the vehicle, at least some of the stored data in a human perceptible format.
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35. A method as in claim 33, and further comprising a step of further storing at least some of the stored data onto a removable data storage medium.
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36. A method as in claim 33, wherein the inputted data is comprised of a plurality of groups of related data, and wherein the step of presenting presents a selected group of related data.
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37. A method as in claim 35, wherein the step of presenting is comprised of an initial step of presenting a list of identifiers, individual ones of which are associated with one of the plurality of groups of related data, and a step of employing a user input means for selecting one of the identifiers from the displayed list of identifiers for selecting the group of related data to be presented.
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38. A method as in claim 31, and further comprising steps of:
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inputting to the dispenser the transmitted data from the data communications network; and
presenting, with the dispenser, at least some of the inputted data in a human perceptible format.
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39. A method as in claim 31, wherein the dispenser is comprised of a dispenser of fuel.
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40. A method as in claim 31, wherein the dispenser is comprised of a dispenser of electrical current.
Specification